Electric snap-switch.



O. E. KENNEY. ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH. .APPLICATION r1120 JUNE 30. 1916.

Patented I Oct. 3, 1916.

aJZVZNTUR Aemw f OWEN E.

KENNEY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TUBING COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO,

TO THE YOS T ELECTRIC MANUFAC- A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRIC SNAP-SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OWEN E. KENNEY, a citizen of the United States,'and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and. State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Electric Snap-Switch; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use .the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part specification.

This invention relates to electric snap switches, and particularly to those of the key controlled type in which a cam member is rotated to efiect a making and breaking of the switch circuit.

The object of my invention is the provision in a switch of the class described of an improved cam member which is simple and cheap in its construction and capable of being easily and quickly made, wherebyto efiect a material saving in expense, material and labor in manufacture over the cam members of this class heretofore employed.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of an electric socket embodying the invention with the section taken on the line 1, 1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is 1.4 central vertical section taken on the line 2, 2 in Fig. 1., Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an operating key having a cam member embodying the invention mounted thereon, a portion of the key handle being broken away, and Fig. 4. is a side elevation of the key, with the cam member and bearing parts in section.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the key s aft of an electric switch of the key controlled type commonly used in connection with electric sockets. It is common in this class of switches to mount a cammember on the key shaft for limited rotary movements relative thereto to permit the contact parts to have quick circuit breaking movements even though the key be held stationary after being turned to the releasing point, as is well understood in the art.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

of this the key shaft Patented Oct. 3, 191a.

Application filed June 30, 1916. Serial No. 106,789.

In the present case, the cam-member of the switch, which member is'designated 2, 18 mounted for free -limited rotation on the shaft 1 and has its rotation relative to the shaft limited by. a set of diametrically opposed lugs 3, 3 on the cam-member coacting with a set of diametrically opposed lugs 4 on the shaft, which latter lugs are disposed n the path of rotation of the lugs 3, 3, as Is apparent. The shaft lugs t may be formed by pinching together or compressing portions of the metal forming the shaft at opposite sides of its axis, or they may be formed in any other suitable manner, as desired.

The cam member 2 comprises a short, narrow, flat bar or strip of metal having an opening 5 therethrough centrally of its ends and of its side edges for rotatably fitting 1, and also having its opposite end portions bent in the same direction in parallel relation to the shaft, as shown at 6, thus forming a bar or strip in U-shape. The crown portion of the cam-member has the lugs 3, 3 struck therefrom at opposite sides of the opening 5, preferably in the direction of projection of the ends 6 and with their inner sides substantially flush, with the wall of the opening 5. It is evident that the proximity of the lugs 3, 3 to the shaft 1 not only disposes such lugs in the path of rotation of the shaft lugs 4, 1, but also causes them to coact with the shaft to brace the cam-member against tilting movements relative thereto, or in other words effecting a lengthening of the shaft bearing surface of the wall of the opening 5.

The bar from which the cam-member 2 is made preferably comprises a flattened wire with the edges thereof rounded so that rounded instead of sharp edges on the legs (3, 6 are presented to and have contact with the sprin circuit bridging member 7 of the associated switch when the cam-member is rotated.

8 designates a bearing sleeve and 9 a bearing collar which are loosely mounted on the shaft 1 at opposite sides of the cammember 2 and rest in respective seats providedtherefor 1n the switch carrying insulating body 10.

It is evident that I have provided a cammember for switch keys which is stamped or struck up from substantially flat barmetal, is simple and cheap to manufacture and is strong and durable in its construction. a

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangcment or form of the parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, What claim "as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

cam-member of the class described formed in U-shape and having its crown provided with a central shaft receiving opening and with lugs at opposite sides of and :uljacentto said opening.

cam-member of the class described in U-shape and having its'crown provided with a central shaft receiving opening and with lugs at opposite sides of and adjacent to said opening, said lugs PlO-o jecting from the crown portion of said member in the same direction as the legs of said member.

3. A stamped cam-member of the class described formed in -U-shape and having its crown provided with a central shaft receivformed ing opening and with lugs struck up therefrom at opposite sides of said opening substantially flush with the opening longitudinally extend the same.

4. A stamped cam-member of the class described formed in U-shape from bar metal with the side edges of the legs thereof roundart thereof proand said shaft adjacent to said lugs, said cammember being formed in U-sha-pe and having a central opening therein for receivin the shaft, and integral lugs projecting therefrom at opposite sides of projected in the path of revolution of said shaft lugs whereby the relative rotation of the cam member and shaft is limited by the coaction of said lugs.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 50 signed my name to this specification.

OWEN E. KENNEY. 

